The Western Conference is extremely muddled a quarter of the way through the season, but near the top of the pack are both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. While it may not be realistic for them to beat out the Warriors for the top seed, the No. 2 spot is wide open and each side would love to claim it as they face off this week.
The Thunder seems like the slightly more talented team but the Nuggets have the home court advantage, which should make it the favorite in this matchup. Even though the season is young, every game is important considering how packed together the West is this year.
Both of these teams will push for a victory in this matchup in NBA wagering.
This NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets will be held at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado at 10 p.m ET on Friday, December 14th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The Nuggets are 18-9 on the season and have really excelled lately with eight wins in their past 10 games. They have an impressive average point-differential of plus-6.3, which is one of the better marks in the league. Denver has gone 10-3 at home on the year and will aim to keep it rolling.
The Thunder has gone 17-8 this season, and their win percentage of .680 is the best in the West. Oklahoma City started the season slowly but has since caught fire. The Thunder has won seven of its past 10 games. OKC is 7-5 on the road this year in NBA gambling.
Injury Report
The Nuggets are dealing with several injuries at this point. Guard Gary Harris has a strained right hip which is expected to keep him out for multiple weeks. It’s a big absence as he is averaging 16.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Guard Will Barton missed Monday’s game against the the Grizzlies with a groin injury that has sidelined him for a while. Barton has scored 33 combined points in two games this season but has rarely been on the court.
Now the Nuggets have lost Paul Millsap to a toe injury, further depleting the roster. He is averaging 13.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. It’s fair to wonder if Denver can overcome all the injuries in this one.
Player To Watch
Paul George -- The Thunder is led by superstar Russell Westbrook, and his status as one of the NBA’s best players is well deserved. However, the team is playing well because of the work of his sidekick. George could have left in free agency but re-signed with the Thunder and it has worked out very well.
He is averaging 24.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists with 2.2 steals on the defensive end. George is shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range. The Nuggets know they need to keep Westbrook in check but George, too, is a huge piece of the puzzle.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Nuggets might be missing some key players, but they still have a lot of talent. Nikola Jokic is blossoming into a star while Jamal Murray has also stepped up. Denver is tough at home and it will be the pick to squeak out a win, although the Thunder could be the choice against the spread if it favors the Nuggets too much in NBA wagering.
NBA ATS Pick: Denver Nuggets 113, Oklahoma City Thunder 110
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